Michelin North America announced the winners of its InTIREnational Art contest, hosted as part of Upstate International month in South Carolina’s Upstate region.
Local artist Patricia Thomas was selected by a team of judges to win the Judge’s Choice Award and a team of elementary students from Ellen Woodside Elementary school earned the People’s Choice award. Each team will receive $5,000 from Michelin to benefit a charity of their choice.
As a sponsor of the second-annual Upstate International month, Michelin kicked off the contest in December, challenging local artists, schools of all grades, organizations and community teams to take up to four scrap tires from Michelin and create works of art that celebrate the diverse, international culture of the region.
Judge’s Choice award winner Patricia Thomas submitted her work of art to benefit Girl Scouts Troop 2559. Her artwork represents a dove, the international symbol of peace, to send a message of peace and healing in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, France. The dove is accompanied by a painting of the Eiffel Tower and several inspirational quotes from famous humanitarians and artists.
The People’s Choice award winners, a team of fourth and fifth graders from Ellen Woodside Elementary, alongside their art teachers and several community members, created “tire boy” in celebration of the Upstate’s diverse future. Constructed from a colorful patchwork of tire strips, the work features iconic landmarks from around the world, including the Eiffel Tower, the London Bridge, Niagara Falls and Greenville’s own Liberty Bridge. The prize money will be used to support ongoing opportunities and programs at Ellen Woodside Elementary.
